But OU's Steven Pledger fired in a 3-pointer, one of five the Sooners made in the second half and part of an 8-for-13 performance overall as OU won 77-68.

“I felt like we were in a good position right there,” OSU guard Markel Brown said. “But OU made plays. They played harder. And they did what they needed to do to win.”

The Cowboys had no answer from the arc, missing all nine 3-point attempts in the second half, after going 6-for-12 in the first 20 minutes.

“We had our opportunities,” said Cowboys coach Travis Ford. “When we cut it back, were down two or down three, we had our opportunities.”

M'BAYE HAS SUCCESS FROM THE ARC

The Sooners’ 3-pointers caught the Cowboys off guard — especially one from Amath M’Baye. Hidden on the right side of the arc, the junior made his first three of the season during a seven-point scoring run.

“He made a big one,” Ford said. “Huge one.”

FORTE ON FIRE EARLY

When the Cowboys were hitting from the perimeter in the first half, Phil Forte provided a spark off the bench, making 3-of-5 from 3-point range as he scored 10 points in the period with Marcus Smart saddled with foul trouble.

Forte's points were big in keeping the Cowboys within striking distance.

“I thought he played well,” Ford said. “We needed his shots to go in. He's a guy we count on to make shots.

MORE FROM NEWSOK

by John Helsley

OSU Reporter Sr.

John Helsley grew up in Del City, reading all the newspapers and sports magazines he could get his hands on. And Saturday afternoons, when the Major League Game of the Week was on, he'd keep a scorecard for the game. So the sports appeal was was...